Mental Health feat. Dr. Aaron Plattner (E3/S3)

Psychiatrist Aaron Plattner discusses the variety of ways mental issues we face can be handled.

There are many factors that make up who we are and how we feel:
       > Biology
       > Psychology (things that have happened to us)
       > Spiritual
       > Environment
All these things shape us and work together and interact. 

What is the role of medicine?
In light of our purpose - to glorify God and enjoy Him forever (Westminster Catechism Q&A 1) - can medicine help us glorify God and enjoy Him forever. If so, how and how do we make that work. Or if they hinder that and we rely only on the medicine and not God, has it become some kind of idol?

Listen in on the discussion of being vulnerable to deal with things as they are, so we can find more full health.

Learn more about Aaron at Spero Psychiatric Services 

www.speropsych.com

"Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Do everything in love.."
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 ESV

Transcript

Psychiatrist Dr. Aaron Plattner discusses the variety of ways to address mental issues we can face.  He discusses what our 'thinking' of psychiatric care from past depictions might be and what it entails today.
 
As a starting point, he asked us to acknowledge, that in general, all men are emotionally constipated and desperately insecure.  In the past any mental issues was shameful to admit, so the old school approach was to stuff this down. Today, more people are getting care for these things and are being brought out in the open more.

There are many factors that make up who we are and how we feel:
       > Biology
       > Psychology (things that have happened to us)
       > Spiritual
       > Environment

All these things shape us and work together and interact.  We need to consider all of these factors, even as psychiatrists consider the biology and treating this aspect of a person.

What is the role of medicine?
In light of our purpose - to glorify God and enjoy Him forever (Westminster Catechism Q&A 1) - can medicine help us glorify God and enjoy Him forever. If so, how and how do we make that work. Or if they hinder that and we rely only on the medicine and not God, has it become some kind of idol?

As we look at how to treat, the reality is we know some things, and some things we don't know.  We need to try things to figure out what works for each person and communicate.  Medicines can help us get out of a 'pathway' that we have developed over time (e.g. depression or anxiety).

All  of us are broken people. Using medicine to help us is OK, even if often we want to be like Frank Sinatra and "Do it my way" or be 'cool' like James Bond and not ever get 'out of sorts'.

As Tim Keller, in his book The Meaning of Marriage says, each of us has a deep need to be both fully known and truly loved.  There is risk in both being vulnerable, and in not being vulnerable - but being healthy often comes from taking the risk to be vulnerable.

QUIET TIMES

• Isaiah 33:6 - God will be the sure foundation for your times - the fear of the Lord is the key
• Psalm 5:3 - Listen to my voice in the morning, each morning, waiting expectantly
• 2 Timothy 2:2-21  - Cleansed to be an instrument for special use

The purpose of our podcast is to help each other be better leaders, husbands and fathers for God's glory. Our discussions are based on elements from the Men's Ministry at Hillcrest Christian Reformed Church in Hudsonville, MI. For more information about us, check our website and hillcrestcrc.org